Identification of Onchocerca volvulus (Onchocerciasis, river blindness)
Microbiology
Bacteriology
○ Adult worms
○ Skin snips
○ Biopsy material (Excised nodules or material from nodules)
Other Information
○ Please indicate the appropriate clinical information on the requisition (e.g. travel history or country of origin and if patient has eosinophilia, HIV, immunocompromise, critical illness or admitted to ICU or previously had a parasite infection)
○ Sterile container (with small amount of saline if biopsy material)
Worm ○ Place excised worm in specimen container then place in a biohazard bag and seal. Skin snips/biopsy material ○ Collect a 1 to 2 mg shaving or superficial skin snip from iliac crest (avoid any bleeding) or scapula or excise a nodule or nodular material and place into specimen container with a small amount of saline.
Refer to section Sample Processing / Delivery
PHOL
○ Up to 2 days from receipt at PHOL
416-586-4800 extension 4604
NO
○ Label specimen container. Place specimens in biohazard bag and seal..
○ Specimens should be stored at room temperature (20-25˚C) prior to transport and should be sent to the UHN/SH Microbiology Laboratory ASAP after collection.
○ The specimen will be referred to the Public Health Ontario Laboratory for testing